JP3827845B2 - Communication flow control method in bidirectional network - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to interactive information exchange between at least one transmitter of audiovisual programs and services in a communication network and a plurality of terminals linked to the transmitter. The invention also relates in particular to a method for controlling the flow of exchanged information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A structure for exchanging audiovisual information and services between a transmitter and an interactive terminal generally includes a forward path and a return path, and an interactive audiovisual program and associated services are routed through the forward path. Once transmitted, one or more terminals may communicate bi-directionally with the transmitter via the return path. In the case of analog transmission, the forward path includes, for example, a modulator that can insert teletext type information into the frame blanking (VBI: vertical blanking interval) of the analog video signal. In the case of digital transmission, the multiplexer performs time division multiplexing of packets of audio and video data, service data, and private data in accordance with, for example, the MPEG2 standard.
[0003]
In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1 for the part of the network exchanging audiovisual and service digital information transmitted by the source S, the forward path consists of a multiplexer 1 and a channel 2 that broadcast the audiovisual program. The In contrast, the return path, on the one hand, manages the database 10 in which information about users of interactive terminals is stored, and on the other hand, collects information output by the terminal during communication with the program source S. The telephone line 4 linking the interactive terminal 6 to the server 8 intended for processing. The terminal is in particular a television set or a microcomputer equipped to receive an audiovisual program.
[0004]
The program is generally received by a number of users attempting to establish communication with the program source S at the same time. As a result, congestion in the return direction path 4 occurs, so that the period during which communication with the source S is permitted is insufficient. The graph of FIG. 2 is a graph representing the number e of attempts to establish communication with the source S performed simultaneously by several users as a function of time t. The capacity R of the network is represented by a horizontal line on the vertical axis, and no further calls can reach the source S in the area above this horizontal line.
[0005]
Moreover, the interactive program can be divided into two types of applications. They, on the other hand, are first applications that ask the user for a near real-time call (e.g., an ad slot that lasts about 30 seconds and requires that the user's response for at least one particular profile is almost immediately) And, on the other hand, a second application in which the user's call may be delayed in time due to the relatively long response time permitted by the program sender (eg, “ Please click and the response period is 15 minutes ").
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, if a predetermined interval starting from the initial reference time T ₀ specific to each application is exceeded, the terminal call is not considered by the source S. From a practical point of view, various networks vary somewhat in congestion depending on the schedule of the day. For example, an audiovisual channel with a powerful movie component, if it broadcasts a movie production, will have a significant increase in viewers at 8:30 pm, while viewers on the same channel will be significantly 1:00 pm Few. The congestion following a request from a program sender seeking a response from the user, for example, hinders the participation of certain users who have a profile inclined to the program sender for reasons of market research. . Therefore, in the case of the above example, the channel manager who preferentially targets the profile of the user who enjoys the movie work will surely get the opportunity to send the call to the user when the network schedule is most congested Is impossible.
[0007]
The object of the present invention was intended for the source S of the interactive program to set a protocol for establishing bidirectional communication between the source and the terminal receiving the program between each interactive program. A method for transmitting a group of data to each of the terminals and controlling the communication flow between the source S of the interactive program and the terminal receiving the program solves the disadvantages of the prior art. That is.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the invention, the group of data requires a period δt during which each terminal is allowed to attempt to establish two-way communication with the source and a priority level associated with each terminal to be considered. , And data P provided at a certain time within the period δt.
[0009]
According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the priority level P _i associated with each terminal divides the terminal as a whole into sub-groups of terminals that process the same priority level, and the sub-group is substantially subordinate. Includes the same number of terminals.
Another feature of the invention is that the group of data further comprises at least one data C that requires at least one selection profile representing a subgroup of users of the interactive terminal to be considered.
[0010]
Another feature of the present invention is that the group of data consists of a maximum of M attempts allowed during the period δt.
The data distributes user calls as evenly as possible throughout the interval, allowing users with selected profiles primarily interested in network operators to gain priority access to two-way communications. This makes it possible to optimally use the interval during which communication is permitted.
[0011]
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention which is not limited to the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the network for exchanging audiovisual and service information transmitted by the source S, as shown in part in FIG. 1 and briefly described above, the forward path is a multiplexer of the above type that broadcasts an audiovisual program. On the other hand, the return path manages the database 10 in which information related to the user of the bidirectional terminal is stored, and on the other hand, the communication path with the program source S The telephone line 4 links the bidirectional terminal 6 to the server 8 that collects and processes the information output by the terminal. Server 8 is a logical entity that includes one or more servers linked to one or more networks.
[0013]
In a preferred application of the invention, at least one terminal comprises a television receiver.
According to a variant of the invention, the method according to the invention is realized in an application which is a microcomputer in which at least one terminal comprises means for receiving a bidirectional program.
[0014]
The terminal comprises a decoder for receiving a transmitted signal and a modem for a return direction path within the scope of the above example. Furthermore, each terminal linked to the network includes a computing means associated with a storage means such as a flash memory, an EPROM memory, an EEPROM memory, or a programmable memory, such as a microprocessor. This parameter has at least one serial number and an intra-network address. Also, the above parameters can be programmed by the designer, trader, or network broadcaster, especially in the case of a cable or telephone network, and can be updated at any time by the network. Furthermore, the data constituting the selected profile representing the user of the terminal are stored in the terminal's programmable memory.
[0015]
In this example, during the transmission of the interactive program, the transmitter transmits a group of data, and the group of data is allowed for each terminal to attempt to establish bidirectional communication with the transmitter. It is composed of a period δt and data P that requires a priority level specific to the terminal to be considered and provides the two-way communication attempt at a time within the period δt.
[0016]
According to an additional feature of the invention, each terminal includes an initial priority level derived from the sequence number or the address of the terminal. This priority level indicated by the variable P ₀ is stored in the storage means of the terminal. The initial value of the variable P ₀ is the following formula E ₁ :
P ₀ = I _d Modulo (N) E ₁
Where I _d is a terminal-specific identification number (in particular, a serial number or the address of a terminal on the network, but is not limited to this), and N is a possible priority. It is an integer representing the rank number, and this defines an equally spaced subdivision of the response period δt. Modulo (N) represents a modulo modulo N. Thus, N is an integer stored in the terminal, which can be changed by the transmitter and can be updated as a function of the total number of terminals and the capacity to receive the terminal's call on the return path. The initial priority level P ₀ is preferably determined when the terminal is powered on. In the following, P _i represents the priority level of the terminal, and this level P _i can take values from 0 to N−1 and varies in the manner described below.
[0017]
Advantageously, at least one user response is made to at least one terminal including means for receiving the interactive program using at least one remote control.
According to a variant of the invention, the response is generated using at least one keyboard, for example a microcomputer keyboard. According to another variant of the invention, the user presses at least one icon displayed on a known touch screen type television screen or microcomputer screen in other applications, thereby bringing the user to the television screen or microcomputer screen. It can respond to two-way messages that appear.
[0018]
The method according to the invention operates as follows. During transmission of a broadcast program accompanied by the interactive program, the terminal receiver displays the broadcast program and executes the interactive program. Typically, this program presents a message intended for the user, and the message asks the user to react in some way. This message can be presented in particular on the terminal screen in a visual format, an audible signal format, a data sequence format, or a combination of the above three formats. The following description considers the case of a visual interactive message appearing on a television screen, but it should be noted that it is not limited to that example. For illustrative purposes, the interactive audiovisual message displayed on the screen is “Please press the I-TV button to get the brochure” (where I-TV stands for “interactive television”), Or a message of the type “Please vote for Hi / No”.
[0019]
In the case of the example of the first message “Please press the I-TV button to get the brochure”, the call duration allowed for the user is, for example, “unlimited”, which is within the interactive program. And the parameter δt = 0
Corresponds to sending. Such a situation occurs when the flow of data is not controlled by the program sender. Thus, in this first example, the data flow is controlled according to the method of controlling the software flow of the terminal itself, and the transmitter is forced to have a specific control strategy depending on the broadcast program being broadcast. Absent.
[0020]
On the other hand, in the case of the second message “Please vote high / no”, a period of time is imposed by the sender of the program and calls after this period are not considered. In this second case,
δt ≠ 0
And requires other data sent to the terminal by the program sender in response to a situation that conditions the control of the terminal's call attempt.
[0021]
Among the parameters sent with the interactive program, the flag P indicates to the terminal how to consider the terminal's priority P _i to determine when the terminal can make a call attempt. Consider two cases depending on the value of the flag P.
In the case supposed duplicate specific for, the terminal needs to determine the time t _i in time interval .DELTA.t.
[0022]
The internal clock of each terminal supplies the value of the reference time T ₀ corresponding to the start of the period δt. Time T _i is given by the following formula:
T _i = T _clock + (P _i * T) E ₂
Where T = δt / N, P _i is the current priority level of the terminal, and T _clock represents the value of the internal clock at the time T _i is calculated.
[0023]
The internal _clock that supplies T ₀ and T _clock is, for example, a transmitter clock, eg, defined in the MPEG2 standard, and its value is synchronized with a so-called SCR (“system clock reference”) clock transmitted in multiplex transmission. . T ₀ is the value of the internal clock at the time the bidirectional program is received, or a further parameter transmitted by the transmitter.
[0024]
N determines the number of subdivisions required to give the time interval δt, and thus the number of different priority values.
If P = 0, the first call attempt is made at time T _i described above. If the attempt is unsuccessful, a new value of T _i is calculated and new attempts are made until T _i exceeds the period δt or the maximum number of attempts M is reached.
[0025]
If P = 1, there is no control over the first call attempt that occurs as soon as possible, i.e., as soon as the user provides the expected response. When this first call fails, a second attempt is made at time T _i . When the second attempt fails, a new attempt is made and so on.
If the attempt is successful, or when the period δt has elapsed and the data P takes the value 0 or 1, the number P _i indicating the priority level of the terminal is given by the following formula:
P _i (n + 1) = (P _i (n) +1) Modulo (N)
Where P _i (n) represents the current priority level at a given time and P _i (n + 1) represents the priority level after a successful attempt or after the passage of period δt.
[0026]
In comparison, the priority remains the same when the maximum number of calls is reached.
Thus, an attempt of a call priority P _i is performed by the lower terminal is performed closer than attempt a call by priority P _i is high terminal. Since the frequency of call attempts of lower priority terminals is increased, the call success probability is increased.
According to the data P, it is possible to predict an overload on the network, so that it is possible to use a selection criterion that is a priority in the case of a network load without considering a user profile. For example, the data P is set to zero because there is a high probability that all calls will be connected at 1:00 pm for a little known channel. Conversely, for a channel with a large number of viewers, data P is set to 1 because it is unlikely that all calls will be routed to the source.
[0027]
Referring again to the above example, when sending an interactive program during the broadcast of a movie work, the program sender is probably primarily interested in “film-buff” TV viewers. is there. Thus, the advantage obtained by this is that the parameter C transmitted by the source / transmitter S is equal to 1, and the profile or user profile stored in the storage means of the terminal is the same as the profile transmitted with the interactive program. This indicates to the terminal that it is necessary to determine whether or not to hold the feature. Thus, in the above example, if parameter C is set to 1 by source S, the “film-buff” television viewer has priority access to send the call over the return line. In the following, “priority access right” means that the terminal is allowed to attempt communication with the broadcast program server as soon as possible, that is, immediately after the user supplies the data requested by the program. After successful access to the return line or after a period δt has elapsed, the priority of the terminal returns to the value before the call.
[0028]
Alternatively, if the data C matches zero, the terminal call is not conditioned by the user profile.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
From the above description, the present invention achieves a set goal irrespective of the nature of the communication network, i.e. on the one hand as a function of the capacity of the network and on the other hand a function of the user profile of the interactive terminal. As can be seen, it is possible to provide a method for controlling the flow of calls to the program source S of the interactive terminal so that it is controlled in an optimal manner.
[0030]
Of course, the present invention can be extended to MMDS, LMDS or MVDS type network types, any type of interactive terminal, means for collecting interactive information, and operating means for sending user responses to the terminal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic partial configuration diagram of a bidirectional communication network.
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a usage example of an interval in which communication with a transmission source is permitted.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Source 2 Multiplexer 3 Channel 4 Telephone line 6 Interactive terminal 8 Server 10 Database

Claims (12)

A bidirectional program transmitter transmits to each terminal a group of data intended to establish a protocol for establishing bidirectional communication between the transmitter and the bidirectional terminal during at least one interactive program. And a method for controlling the flow of information exchanged between at least one interactive program transmitter and at least two interactive terminals,
The group of data requires a period δt during which each terminal is allowed to establish a two-way communication with the source and a priority level P _i related to each terminal to be considered, And data P provided at a time when the attempt is within the period δt. The priority level P _i of each terminal is determined to divide the terminal as a whole into subgroups of terminals that process the same priority level,
The method of claim 1, wherein the subgroup includes substantially the same number of terminals. Priority P _i Attempts call by lower terminal so performed densely than in the case of priority P _i is high terminal, frequency of priority P _i is the lower terminal of the call attempt is increased, thereby The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the probability of success of the call is increased. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said group of data further comprises at least one data C requiring at least one selection profile representing a subgroup of users of interactive terminals to be considered. The group of data consists of the maximum number of attempts M allowed during the period δt. A bidirectional program transmitter transmits to each terminal a group of data intended to establish a protocol for establishing bidirectional communication between the transmitter and the bidirectional terminal during at least one interactive program. And a method for controlling the flow of information exchanged between at least one interactive program transmitter and at least two interactive terminals,
The group of data includes a period δt in which each terminal is allowed to establish a two-way communication with a source, a maximum number M of attempts allowed during the period δt, and the period δt. Data P requiring a priority level P _i associated with each terminal to be considered at a given time, and at least one data C requiring a selection profile representing a bidirectional terminal user subgroup to be considered A method characterized by comprising. If the data C is C = 1 and the profile or user profile stored in the storage means of the terminal has the same characteristics as the profile transmitted with the interactive program, the terminal As soon as possible using priority access to the network, i.e. immediately after the user has supplied the data requested by the program, an attempt to communicate with the transmitter is granted and after successful access to the return line. Or after the elapse of the period δt, the priority of the terminal is returned to the value before making the call;
7. The method according to claim 4, wherein if the data C is C = 0, the terminal call is not conditioned by the user profile of the terminal. The terminal, said terminal the transmitter expressions below within the returning time intervals are permitted to perform the call on the line δt that towards the E _2:
T _i = T _clock + (P _i * T) E ₂
Determining a time point T _i calculated according to
Wherein a T = δt / N, N represents the number of priority that may appear in the interval .DELTA.t, thereby to define equidistant subdivision of the period .DELTA.t, P _i is the current of the terminal The internal clock of each terminal supplies the value of the reference time T ₀ corresponding to the start of the period δt, and T _clock represents the value of the internal clock at the time when T _i is calculated. 8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Following receipt of the group of data by the terminal,
If the data P is P = 0, the first call attempt is made at the predetermined time point T _i , and if the attempt is not successful, a new value of T _i is calculated and T _i is new attempts are repeated until δt is exceeded or the maximum number of attempts M is reached;
If the data P is P = 1, as soon as possible, i.e., no control is performed for the first call attempt that is made as soon as the user provides the expected response, and after an unsuccessful attempt, the call 9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the step is repeated at said time T _i . Each terminal is represented by P ₀ and stored in the storage means of the terminal, and the following equation E ₁ :
P ₀ = I _d Modulo (N) E ₁
Including an initial priority level that is a variable that can be determined by
Wherein, I _d the process according to claim 8 or 9, wherein an identification number specific to the terminal. The priority level P _i of the terminal is given by the following formula:
P _i (n + 1) = (P _i (n) +1) Modulo (N)
Characterized by being updated according to
Where P _i (n) represents the current priority level at a given time,
P _i (n + 1) The method of any one of claims 8 to 10 represent a priority level after a successful or after a period δt attempt. A television receiver, wherein the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is implemented.

Images